Oil level showing overfull

Overvolted

Overvolted

Active Member
Feb 28, 2023
115
Boat Info
1987 Sea Ray 268. Covered slip
Engines
7.4 Mercruiser
1987 Sea Ray 268, big block Mercruiser. Went to the boat tonight to change the oil, when I pulled the stick it showed way over filled. Pumped it out and added 6 quarts of oil, I believe it calls for 7 quarts fired the engine, let it run then shut off to let oil drain back down to pan. Pulled stick and it showed overfull still. Dipstick is 14607 and with 6 quarts the oil level is at the one numeral. Boat is in the water and I have a slight starboard list that I don't believe is enough to throw the reading that far off. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
20230606_202244.jpg
 
I assume you are letting the oil drain down to the pan, ideally checking a cold engine?
 
With the suck-out method who knows how much is left behind. I measure how much comes out and replace with same.
 
mrsrobinson said:
I assume you are letting the oil drain down to the pan, ideally checking a cold engine?
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Yes, cold engine. After refilling started engine then shut off and allowed time to drain back to pan.
 
scoflaw said:
With the suck-out method who knows how much is left behind. I measure how much comes out and replace with same.
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After I sucked out what I thought was all the oil I put dip stick back in and there was no oil showing on it. This is the first oil change I have done on the engine since I bought it so no way to know for sure if the PO put the correct amount in before.
 
Is there oil on that stick? I don't see any.

Believe it or not, the suck out method gets everything but about 6 ounces... I measured once, just to be sure. And then I finished by draining and that 6 ounces or so was all that came out.
 
I have a twin engine boat and always get a half quart more out of one engine vs. the other.
 
Lazy Daze said:
Is there oil on that stick? I don't see any.

Believe it or not, the suck out method gets everything but about 6 ounces... I measured once, just to be sure. And then I finished by draining and that 6 ounces or so was all that came out.
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I had wiped the stick prior to taking the picture. The oil level before I drained it was well into the numbers on the stick about two inches after the "full" line. With six quarts in it the oil level touches the first number. The engine calls for seven quarts. I thought I may have the wrong dip stick in the engine as to why with seven quarts im past the full mark. My old boat was on the trailer and dead level when I did oil changes and always read correctly on the stick.
 
Overvolted said:
I had wiped the stick prior to taking the picture. The oil level before I drained it was well into the numbers on the stick about two inches after the "full" line. With six quarts in it the oil level touches the first number. The engine calls for seven quarts. I thought I may have the wrong dip stick in the engine as to why with seven quarts im past the full mark. My old boat was on the trailer and dead level when I did oil changes and always read correctly on the stick.
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Did the oil look clean? It wasn't milky, was it (hopefully not)?

I'm not sure offhand what part number your dipstick should be - maybe check online parts catalogs.

If it was too overfilled, it would think it would be frothy right after running the engine? Everyone else... thoughts on that?
 
Sounds like a case of different dipstick, to me. I have one of those. Trying to find a dipstick for an older engine or even a boat engine is impossible around me. After the first oil change and having those issues, I got a new one and made my own marks on it. No questioning it now and the top isn't broken and spinning around.
 
Different dipstick, good call. One of my boats had twin engines and I could never figure out why the oil levels were different. Turns out one of the dipsticks was not original and was too short.
 
Lazy Daze said:
Did the oil look clean? It wasn't milky, was it (hopefully not)?
Oil was clean, bo evidence of water at all.
I'm not sure offhand what part number your dipstick should be - maybe check online parts catalogs.

If it was too overfilled, it would think it would be frothy right after running the engine? Everyone else... thoughts on that?
Click to expand...
 
JHornsby3 said:
Sounds like a case of different dipstick, to me. I have one of those. Trying to find a dipstick for an older engine or even a boat engine is impossible around me. After the first oil change and having those issues, I got a new one and made my own marks on it. No questioning it now and the top isn't broken and spinning around.
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I may just make a new mark on the stick in it now after I add the seventh quart. I'm going to measure what I took out last night today as I ran out of time.
 
scoflaw said:
Without draining from the drainplug you don't really know how much oil is in the pan.
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My last boat had an oil drain line that you could pull out of the bilge drain hole, it took forever to drain but you could drain the oil pan completely. My current boat does not have this.
 
There are 2 drains plugs on the CATS 3126 on my boat. The Reverso is connected to the forward one, which sits higher than the aft one. I am thinking about switching it to get a little more oil out. I add a sacrifice quart of oil before filling to try to get as much of the dirty oil out before refilling. Learned that here.
 
I would assume the dipstick is the correct one and all the oil isn't getting pumped out.
 
scoflaw said:
I would assume the dipstick is the correct one and all the oil isn't getting pumped out.
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From what I understand the dip stick tube runs to the bottom of the oil pan and is angle cut just before the bottom of the pan.
 
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